Stock-feeder.



- y D. '1.'. M'GKINNIE..

` STOCK FEEDER.

APPLIUATIOI FILED 0,(1'12` 22, 1909.l

Patented Feb., 1,1910.

2 sums-SHEET 1.

D T. MCKINNIB.

STOCK FEEDER..

APPLICATION FILED 0015.22, 1909.

Patented Feb.1,191r0.

Svi/MMM DOLLAS T. IVICKINNIE, OF KIPLING, NORTH CAROLINA.

STOCK-FEEDER.

air-acre.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

Application filed October 22, 1909. Serial No. 524,072.

To all whom t may concern:

13e it known that I, DoLLAs` T. McKiNNIE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kipling, in the county of Harnett, State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStock-Feeders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to automatic stock feeders.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved clock actuatedreleasing mechanism adapted to be operated by a very slight blow such asis given by the hammer of an alarm clock.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the mechanism that arelease lever will be provided which bears very lightly against a catchat one end, and a catch at the other end taking the weight.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafterapparent, the invention consists in general of a feed receptacle havinga drop bottom, together with certain improved mechanism actuated by analarm clock and arranged to hold the drop bottom closed until apredetermined time has arrived.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and z-Figure 1 is a vertical section througha feed trough and chute showing this mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2is a front view of the arrangement. Fig. 3 is a rear view showing theactuating mechanism. Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device.

The numeral 10 indicates the ordinary manger common in stalls and abovethis manger is a chute 11 above which again is a feed receptacle 12which is divided by means of a partition 13 into unequal compartments,one being designed for the reception of grain and the other for thereception of hay or the like. The bottom of this receptacle is closed bya door 14 which is hinged at its front edge as indicated at 15. Theseelements are mounted on a partition 16 and this partition is providedwith an, opening 17 wherethrough passes a lever 18 pivoted at 19 tobrackets 20. This lever is arranged so that what may be termed its innerend can be swung to lie beneath the door 14C. EX- tending down from theouter end of the lever is a link 2l preferably formed of cord or wireand to the lower end of this link is attached a bar 22. This bar 22 hasthe link attached thereto quite close to one end so that the bar isformed of a relatively short and a relatively long portion or arm. At 23are certain catches which are of inverted L- shape and these catches aresecured to a suitable table or shelf 24. The catches are so positionedon the shelf 24 that one of the catches lies close to the link 2l whenthe bar 22 is engaged beneath the catch while the remaining catch liesclose to the extremity of the longer portion of the bar. At 25 ispositioned an alarm clock from which the bell has been removed and thisclock is provided with the usual hammer 26. By reason of the clock beingpositioned adjacent the longer arm of the bar 22 the hammer 26 isarranged to strike well toward the end of said longer arm. Now, from aninspection of Fig. 3 it will be plain that the principal stress due tothe weight of feed in the receptacle is brought upon the left hand catch23 while the bar 22 rests very lightly beneath the right hand catch 23so that the slight blow given by the hammer 26 will effectually dislodgethe longer arm of the bar from beneath the right hand catch. The weightof the feed on the bottom or door will then cause the lever to rotate onits pivot point with the result that the bar will be drawn up and freedfrom the remaining catch thus permitting the feed to pass down throughthe chute and into the manger. There has thus been provided a simple andeiiicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this invention without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the inventionto the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished toinclude all such as properly come within the scope ofthe appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a stock feeder, a feed receptacle having a drop bottom, and meansreleasably to hold clock provided with a hammer and mounted adjacent thelast mentioned catch in such position that the movement of the hammerwill knock the longer end of the bar from beneath its catch and releasethe mechanism to permit the door to fall.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

DOLLAS T. MCKINNIE. fitnesses G. H. LONG, L. T. BYRD.

